Source:c ommons.wikimedia.org
When last did you look at your tongue in the mirror? If you notice the tops of your tongue, sides and occasionally, undersurface of the tongue develop irregular, smooth red areas with wavy lines next to the red patches and may look like the outline of a map, you may have “geographic tongue”. The patches may appear in one area, then move to another area. Geographic tongue is a symptom and not a disease, also known as benign migratory glossitis or erythema migrans. However, you don’t have to worry as it will never become cancerous.
As the red patches are thin and raw, you may experience mild discomfort or a burning and/or painful sensation which often sensitivity to :
- Hot, spicy or acidic foods
- Cigarette smoke
- Toothpaste or whitening agent
Note: To speed up the relief of geographic tongue, it’s best to completely avoid the symptom triggers.
The exact cause is unknown but the following factors have been linked with the condition:
- Psoriasis (especially pustular psoriasis)
- Associated with diabetes, anaemia, atopy (asthma/or eczema) and stress
- Particular foods especially cheese
- Run in families which means gene may play a role
- Hormonal factors (Women’s menstrual cycle or during pregnancy)
Unfortunately, there is no treatment to cure geographic tongue as it is usually resolves itself after some weeks or months. If there are associated medical conditions, treatment of these may improve the appearance of the tongue.
Seeing a dentist/doctor is the best way to rule out a more serious problem. Discomfort may be treated with :
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Mouth rinses with anaesthetic
- Corticosteroids applied directly to the tongue
- Zinc supplements
Dr Marini Ismail is a dental officer currently working in Selangor.
References:
- Cawson RA, Odell EW. Cawson’s Essentials of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Elseivier; 2008
- https://ispub.com/IJFP/9/2/9625
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]